Arch support



June 19, 1923.

, 1,459,015 M. R. cRossMAN ARCH SUPPORT Filed March 4, 1920 lnvenro'r. Murn F?. Qrossmon bym/ Mimi Cil Patented June I9, 1923 AeonsUProaan s 1V Application1edMarch4, 1920.` Serial o."363,120.

T 0 all whom it may concern.vr

Be it known that I, MARTIN a ,citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, county of Suffolk, Stateof Massa,

chusetts, have 'invented an Improvement in Arch Supports, of which the following de# script-ion, in connection with the accompany ing drawing. is a specificat1on,like'ohara ters on the drawing representing like parts.

support which can.` be inexpensively ,manufactured; which is constructed so that it will readily adapt itself tothe shapeof the foot 7 of the user, and thus form a perfect' support for the astragalus,:and which has other advantages, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.` d f 'In order to givean understanding of my invention, I have illustrated in thedrawings a selected embodimentthereof which will now be described, after which the novel` features will be pointed out Iin the appended claim. In the drawings,-Fig. `1 is a plan view of an arch support embodying my invention; j

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2, Fig. l, looking to the left; l

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Fig. l; Fig. 4 shows a modification. My improved arch support comprises a base layer l of some suitable material, such as leather, leather-board, fiber, linoleumand the like, which is ofa length to extend from the heel forward to a point just beyond the ball of the foot, and which has a width to fit into the shoe; an upper layer 2 which is preferably coeXtensive with-the base layer l and which preferably will be made of leather7 although linoleum may be used if desired, and means intermediate said layers which gives the necessary shape to the upper layer 2 and which provides a resilient and yielding support for the arch of the foot.y

This means will preferably be in the forni of a spring steel strip 3 which is yarch-shaped and is situated so that it comes beneath the arch of the foot. This strip 3 is relatively narrow, as shown by dotted lines, Fig. 1, and it is situated adjacent the .inner edge of the arch support so that it will best support the arch of the foot. This spring metal element 3 is preferably held in place by suitable rivets 4 which extend through apertures in the ends of the metal plate and through both the fbase layer R. CRossMAN,

`ber 5 of leather, leather-board,.linoleuin-or This invention 1 relates toarch. supports" and has for its object toprovide anovel arch.

seen in Fig.3. r f `Situated between ,the meta-l arch `member 3 and the base layer 1 isi-a supporting menr.y

the like, which.supporting"member has a. flat under face, andthe upperface of 'which has -a contour-.in a direction` longitudinally fldandi'the upperflayer 2, asbest` j' of the arch supportcorresponding.tothe]i contour ofl the1`arch.rnemberj3.: This supportingmeniber extendsfrom` the inner` edge `7 ofthe arch support-partiallyl across the latter to a point outside of the` archfmem# ber `3,*tl1e; outer edge 6. of -the' vsupportingniember lbein chamfered orpbeveled, as shown bestin tig. 2. f f I.. j f Imayjif desired interpose a. -layer8 'of somecushion material, suchasfelt, betweenthe baselayer lv andthe -upper layer 2, al-'L lthoughfthis felt layer is not essential tothe invention. This layer-8 whenused provides. v

a'cushio'n effect whichmak'esth'e arch' .sup-

port comfortable in use. Furthermore, `it. i allows thetoplayer v2.1to givemore or less in.

different places and Lt-herebylfto'l .conform more readily to the-actual contour of the Y foot so that after the arch support has beeny in use for a short time, the upper surface thereof `conforms accurately to the under surface of the foot, thus increasing thecomfort with which support.

a person fn'iay'use` the arch I may if desired makexthe Vlayer 8' with va water-proof surface, although this is vnot go essential. V v

I have shown herein two `layers 9 of some suitable fabric,jsuch as duck, situated either side of the arch' member 3. The purpose of these layers 9 is to prevent the metallic member 3 from injuring the layers either `side thereof, andv they also assist in eliminating anyliability `ofthe archsupport to j squeak when in use. j j

I find from practice that itis not necessaryto secure thel layers together in any other way than by means ofthe rivets4` which `hold the metal arch member 3 in position, although, of course, if desired the various layers might be stitched together around the edge. .This, however, is not essential', as they may be secured together `by gluing or in any other suitable way.

The arch support will preferably have a rounded front edge 10 which preferably comes at the roots of the'k toes, and this' edge may conveniently be chamfered so as not to produce: any discomfort tothe wearer.

The supporti-ng member 5 is` shown as situated between the rivets 4 and to hold it in place I propose to employ a pin or spike 13 which is inserted through the bottom layer l and into the supporting layer. The' pin herein shown for this purpose is provided With a relatively large: head 12 Which arch support is inl use as shown in dotted lines Fig; 3. y

lin Fig". 4 I have shown a slightly different modlilicationl of the invention in which the arch support is provided with. aside eXtensioir Il'lthat lifts the side of the arch of the foot. This side extension may be formed by extending either the base layer l or the t'op layer 2 as desired, preferably the top layer. The construction shown inA Fig. 1 isespe ciaFlily adapted for' use Where the top" layer at least ofY the ar'eli support is made ot' leather. I find? `trom experience that linole'rnn makes an exe'ellentmaterial for both--thetop and the bottom' layers, and' Where the afrch support does not have the lip '11,- I find' an I extremely eicientarch can be produced' by using linole'um the'top' as WellI as thev bottom layer. The filling or supporting member 5- may also-be madefoii linoleum.

There the constructionA shown in Figs. 2 and` 8. is employed involvingthe protuberance l2lhaving the Wire shank 13, said shank serves not only to secure the protuberance to the. arch support in the proper position, but also serves to anchor the filling member 5 and prevent it from moving laterally.

I claim:

An arch support eomprisinga non-metallic base layer extending liromi the heel to about the'` balli of" the floot, a non-metallic upper' layerco#extensiveA with the base layer', a supporting member situated between said layers and' extend-'ing from the inner side of the" arclr support' to a point slightly beyond the median line; a pin extending*throughl the bottom layer and' into the arch-supporting member' for holding: the latter" inf position, said: supporting.' member being rela'- tively short inl the direction of' the length of thev arch support andv beingl situated? centra-lly thereof, a: spring; steel strip extendiing longitudinally of the archi support and situatedbetW-een. the top layer and the supportiii'g member both ends oi? said strip eX- tending beyond the supporting member, and' rivets' extending through and' connecting` the topand bottom layers and sai'di spring strip, sardi rivetsbei-ng 'situated' at either end of the supporting! member; f

InV testimony whereof, I have signed" my name to this specification.

MARTN R. CRO'SSMAN. 

